Article 167 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 167 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الباب الرابع عشر: بيع البضائع
After the period set by the Minister or the competent authority expires, the Administration may sell goods stored in customs warehouses or located in yards and on quays or abandoned in customs areas.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للإدارة بعد انقضاء المهلة التي حددها الوزير أو الجهة المختصة أن تبيع البضائع التي خزنت في المستودعات الجمركية أو الموجودة على الساحات والأرصفة، أو تلك المتروكة في الدوائر الجمركية .
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 167 explained in plain English
This article gives the Administration the power to sell goods that remain a long time at customs.
Goods covered:
- Goods stored in customs warehouses.
- Goods located in yards and on quays.
- Goods abandoned in customs areas.
Condition of sale: the expiry of the period set by the Minister or the competent authority. The article does not state the length of this period, so one refers to the decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
The apparent rationale: goods staying for a long time in yards and warehouses occupy space and may be exposed to spoilage, so they may be sold after the specified period.
What this means in practice: the owner of the goods must follow up his goods' procedures and clear them before the period expires, or else the Administration may sell them. The power is discretionary (“the Administration may”).
Article 166 permits the sale of seized goods that are perishable or lose value before the judgment, by report with notice to the owner. Article 168 specifies what the Administration sells, including goods that became the property of customs by confiscation, settlement or waiver, goods not withdrawn from warehouses within the legal period, and goods of unknown owners. A person who has delayed in clearing his goods would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial cases before the period expires.
Practical example
A merchant imported a shipment of household goods and left it in a customs yard in Jeddah for months without completing its procedures. After the period set by the Minister or the competent authority has expired, the Administration may sell it.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 167 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Does customs sell abandoned goods?
Yes. After the period set by the Minister or the competent authority expires, the Administration may sell goods that are stored or abandoned.
How long is the period before abandoned goods are sold?
It is set by the Minister or the competent authority, and the article does not state it.
More articles on Sale of Goods and Customs Limitation Periods
- Article 146
The Director General may hold and sell seized goods and means of transport when smugglers flee or cannot be traced; the proceeds go to the State if one year passes from the sale without the smugglers being caught.
للمدير العام التحفظ على البضائع ووسائط النقل المضبوطة في حالة فرار المهربين أو عدم الاستدلال عليهم، وبيعها طبقا لأحكام الباب الرابع عشر من هذا النظام " القانون
- Article 166
The Administration may sell seized goods that are perishable or affect the safety of others, and goods whose value is falling with a license, without awaiting the judgment, with notice to the owner and refund of the price if the judgment favors him.
أ - للإدارة أن تبيع البضائع المحجوزة القابلة للتلف أو النقص أو التسرب أو كانت في حالة من شأنها أن تؤثر في سلامة البضائع الأخرى والمنشآت الموجودة فيها . ب - يجوز
- Article 168
The Administration sells goods and means of transport that became customs property by confiscation, settlement or waiver, goods not withdrawn from warehouses in time, and goods of unknown owners after the holding period.
تقوم الإدارة ببيع ما يلي : 1 - البضائع والمواد ووسائط النقل التي أصبحت ملكا للجمارك نتيجة حكم بالمصادرة أو تسوية صلحية أو تنازل خطي . 2 - البضائع التي لم تسحب م
- Article 169
The Administration bears no responsibility for malfunction or damage to goods it sells under the Law, unless it is proved that it committed an obvious error in carrying out the sale.
لا تتحمل الإدارة أي مسؤولية عن العطل أو الضرر الذي يلحق بالبضائع التي تقوم ببيعها بموجب أحكام هذا النظام " القانون "، إلا إذا ثبت أنها ارتكبت خطأ بينا في إجراء
- Article 170
Customs sales are conducted by public auction under the rules of the Minister or the competent authority, and goods are sold free of fees and taxes except the brokerage commission, which the buyer bears.
أ - تجري عمليات البيع المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب بالمزاد العلني وفقا للشروط والقواعد التي تحدد بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة . ب - تباع البضائع والأشياء ووسا
- Article 171
Sale proceeds are distributed starting with customs duties and then expenses; the balance for goods permitted for import is held in trust and may be reclaimed within a year, the balance for prohibited goods goes to the Treasury, and smuggling cases follow Article 172.
أ - يوزع حاصل البيع وفقا للترتيب التالي : 1- الضرائب " الرسوم " الجمركية . 2 - نفقات عملية البيع . 3 - النفقات التي صرفتها الإدارة من أي نوع كانت . 4 - أجرة الن
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.